Good people doing good: The power of giving back

This story was published in the spring 2025 issue of 12th & Marshall. You can find the current and past issues online.

Richmond native and local pediatrician Eric B. Freeman, M.D., a 2002 alum, mentors students and supports his alma mater’s educational mission by volunteering on the medical school’s admissions committee.

Patient Audrey D. Landers, Ph.D., wants to celebrate her oncologist's extraordinary dedication, expertise and collaboration.

Shannon Weisleder believes uplifting others is essential to her own healing – and to breaking the stigma of talking about mental health challenges.

They are among the community of supporters who represent a culture of giving back at the School of Medicine and VCU Health. While motivation differs, they share a common commitment to making a difference.

“Their generosity, in partnership with our leading physicians and researchers, creates an environment for all of us to be successful – and hopeful for the future,” says Dean of Medicine Arturo P. Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D. “Whether in the clinic, in the laboratory or in the classroom, these gifts turn dreams into reality.”

My daughter Christine was driven by love, kindness and a dedication to helping others.

The Archuleta family pictured left to right: Henry, Elena, Felice, Christine (holding Ziti, the family’s beloved Jack Russell Terrier) and Bob. (Contributed photo)

As her father, I witnessed firsthand how she faced every challenge with a magical smile, and with positivity, resilience and compassion, never losing sight of her dream to make a difference in the lives of women through medicine.

This fund in her name is our way of honoring that spirit – of keeping Christine’s way of life alive. It supports social and engagement activities for residents in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, fostering the kind of supportive community that Christine valued so deeply. We also established Christine’s House in Church Hill as a place where residents can come together for retreats, learning and initiatives that uplift women.

In the short time since its opening, the house has welcomed three visiting scholars and guest speakers and serves as a meaningful retreat space for residents. In every use, the house continues Christine’s legacy – nurturing the next generation of compassionate physicians and creating the kind of community she believed in. Through this space, her spirit lives on in every conversation, every connection and every act of care that happens within its walls.

Christine believed that taking care of others starts with taking care of yourself, and she advocated for physician wellness as an essential part of delivering quality care.

By supporting this fund, we’re not just preserving her memory – we’re carrying forward her vision of compassion, resilience and dedication to both patients and colleagues. It’s a legacy of love, and it’s one I am honored to share with the world.

- Together with his wife, the late Felice M. Archuleta, M.D, H’84, pediatrician Bob A. Archuleta, M.D., chose to honor the legacy of his late daughter by establishing the Christine Archuleta Legacy Fund. Christine matched into VCU Health’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program in 2021 but was diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away before she could begin her training.

I’ve cared for countless patients whose lives were turned upside down...

R. Todd Stravitz, M.D., F’92 (left), and Arun J. Sanyal, M.D., F’90. (Photo by Allen Jones, VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

... by liver failure, and I’ve watched families struggle with the uncertainty and fear that come with it. Early in my training, treatment options were limited, and transplantation was still evolving. Those experiences shaped my commitment to finding better ways to care for people facing these illnesses.

The Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health is the result of a long-standing collaboration and deep mutual respect between myself and my colleague, Arun J. Sanyal, M.D., F’90. For decades, he has been one of the world’s foremost experts in liver disease and metabolic health, leading trailblazing research and advancing care on a global scale.

Working alongside him has been one of the most meaningful parts of my career, and I couldn’t imagine a better partner to help lead this institute into the future. Together, we’re building something that has the potential to transform liver care for generations to come.

- R. Todd Stravitz, M.D., F’92, is co-founder of the VCU Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health and president of the Barbara Brunckhorst Foundation. In 2022, the foundation’s $104 million transformational gift to the institute marked the largest publicly shared gift for liver research in U.S. history.

When I first experienced irregular heartbeats, it was unsettling.

After his cardiac ablation at VCU Health Pauley Heart Center, Joey Stemmle hiked around Delta Lake in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The lake sits at an elevation of 9,000 feet. (Contributed photo)

I was just 32 and despite leading an active lifestyle – playing volleyball, lifting weights – I found myself facing atrial fibrillation. The journey to a correct diagnosis was frustrating, with initial tests coming back normal and symptoms being attributed to dehydration or stress. It wasn’t until I connected with Dr. Ken Ellenbogen and the team at VCU Health Pauley Heart Center that I felt truly heard and understood.

Their responsiveness and dedication were remarkable. From reviewing my Apple Watch EKG uploads to addressing my concerns promptly, they exemplified what compassionate care should be. Undergoing cardiac ablation on Valentine’s Day 2024 was my gift to myself – a step toward reclaiming my health. The procedure went smoothly, and I was back to my regular activities within a week.

I wanted to express my appreciation for the whole electrophysiology team in a meaningful way. Providing lunch felt like a small token compared to the life-changing care they provided me. It was important to me to acknowledge not just the doctors but every team member who played a role in my recovery. Their dedication made a profound difference in my life.

- VCU Health Pauley Heart Center patient Joey Stemmle, a 2013 alumnus of VCU’s School of Business, expressed his gratitude for the electrophysiology team – including Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, M.D., who holds the Martha M. and Harold W. Kimmerling, M.D., Chair in Cardiology.

After losing my brother...

One of two murals Shannon Weisleder
commissioned by Richmond artist and
mental health advocate Sunny Goode.
(Contributed photo)

... to suicide and later facing my own challenges, I realized the importance of open conversations and supportive environments. Walking the halls for exercise during my hospitalization for severe depression, I noticed the faces around me – college students, parents and teenagers – all navigating their own struggles.

That realization shifted my perspective. Mental health challenges affect all kinds of people, yet stigma keeps so many silent. At the same time, I saw an opportunity to create a more welcoming and uplifting environment, one that could provide comfort and hope during a challenging time.

Murals have always inspired me with their ability to transform spaces and lift spirits. I wanted to help, believing that by reaching out to others, I could also begin to heal myself. This mural is more than art – it’s a message of hope.

- Patient Shannon Weisleder commissioned two murals for inpatient care in the VCU Department of Psychiatry.

My time on the MCV Campus included medical school as well as my residency and fellowship, and those years shaped both my career and my life.

Thomas Walker is one of over 20 students whose medical education is tuition-free, thanks to James W. and Frances G. McGlothlin. The couple also will match new current-use gifts made to merit-based scholarships. (Photo by Kevin Schindler)

The exceptional professors and mentors I had, along with the friendships I formed, made a significant impact on me. Even now, I look back with immense gratitude for the education and training I received.

Supporting medical student scholarships is one of the most meaningful ways I can give back. Today’s students face increasing challenges, not only in mastering medicine but also in navigating the many complexities of modern health care.

By helping alleviate the financial burden, we empower the next generation of physicians to focus on what truly matters – learning, growing and ultimately providing outstanding patient care.

When I learned about the McGlothlin match for medical student scholarships, it was an easy decision to participate. Their generosity doubled my gift and its impact for students.

- Thomas E. Patteson, M’71, H’73, F’78, who supported medical student scholarships via the McGlothlin match using a qualified charitable distribution from his individual retirement account.

I wish I'd never met her.

Mary Helen Hackney, M.D., H’91, F’94 counseling patients. (Photo by Tom Kojcsich, VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

After all, who wouldn’t like to go through life without ever meeting an oncologist? I haven’t been that fortunate. My cancer journey began in 1989, but it wasn’t until 2019 that the trip took an extremely arduous turn. I will forever be grateful that Dr. Mary Helen Hackney has been my travel companion along the way.

Throughout her decades of work at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, she’s received numerous accolades, honors and awards. The usual adjectives have been used to describe her: dedicated, bright, knowledgeable, caring, compassionate, empathic and direct. However, I expected those things. What’s exceptional about Dr. Hackney is that she “gets” me.

I don’t think I’m the easiest patient in her caseload. At our appointments, after a perfunctory greeting, she now adds, “Whatcha got for me?” or “What’s on your worry list today?” Patiently, she handles my questions and concerns. At the end of what are generally long conversations, she gives my husband a hug as she leaves the room. (Sometimes I get a hug, too.) In my experience, Dr. Hackney is one of a kind.

The play “Airline Highway” has a lot to do with my making this donation now. In the play there is a living funeral for the main character, who’s dying but wants to be present when her friends celebrate her life. In a similar fashion, while I’m alive, I want to know that Dr. Hackney, her name and her passion, will be remembered forever in this special way.

With an endowed professorship added to the existing stellar collection of faculty and researchers at Massey, it is my hope that more of the best and the brightest will be competing to work there.

- Audrey D. Landers, Ph.D., endowed a professorship in honor of Mary Helen Hackney, M.D., H’91, F’94, her physician at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The COVID-19 pandemic widened gaps in health outcomes among communities across the country, including here in Richmond.

Massey on the Move mobile health van

That’s why the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation partnered with VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center to launch the Massey on the Move mobile health vans in 2023.

We wanted to help provide essential health care to those most impacted by the social determinants of health. The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation provided a $300,000 grant to launch the initiative and invested another $150,000 in 2025 to support the program, which allows for one-on-one conversations with Virginia residents about healthy lifestyle practices and cancer screening.

By delivering cancer education and awareness to underserved communities across the Richmond region, our hope is for the Massey on the Move mobile health vans to make a lasting impact in the fight against cancer.

- Hunter A. Applewhite, president of the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation

I had a relationship with VCU for more than 30 years – long before I officially became a medical student.

Eric B. Freeman, M'02. (Contributed photo)

As a high schooler in Richmond, I was part of the Health Careers Opportunity Program, where I was welcomed into the medical school community, mentored by professors I now call colleagues. That early investment in me shaped everything. The support I received – from faculty to hospital staff – built the foundation for the physician and person I’ve become today.

Giving back is not optional for me; it’s a moral responsibility. I’ve been blessed by people who shared their time, talent and wisdom with me. Now, I try to pass that forward through mentoring, teaching, serving on the admissions committee – in addition to guiding future physicians to embody the empathy and diversity our field needs. I believe we are each given a divine assignment in life, and mine is to serve my patients, students and community.

VCU didn’t just educate me; it believed in me. That kind of commitment deserves to be honored. Therefore, I stay engaged out of a sense of duty and gratitude. This institution helped fill my cup, and every day, I try to pour from it into others.

- Eric B. Freeman, M’02, is a member of the VCU School of Medicine’s admissions committee and former adviser to the Black Men in Medicine student organization.

My motivation to support the Pauley Heart Center began with gratitude...

VCU Health Pauley Heart Center’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program has provided impactful mentorship opportunities to more than 90 students. (Contributed photo)

... gratitude for the exceptional care my husband received at VCU Health. Living in Williamsburg, we always knew about the incredible medical expertise just up the road in Richmond. But many of our friends who have moved here from out of state didn’t realize the treasure we have in VCU. I wanted to help spread the word and give back in a way that would have lasting impact.

Supporting Pauley’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program felt like a natural fit. Originally, I saw it as a way to give William & Mary students exposure to the medical field, since we don’t have a medical school here. It’s grown into something even more meaningful, opening doors for students across Virginia to explore careers in cardiovascular medicine and research.

I know how daunting it can be to pursue a medical path. Sometimes, all a young person needs is someone to believe in them. That’s been true in my life and in my husband’s. The SURF program offers that kind of opportunity: support, mentorship and the chance to dream big. Endowing this fellowship ensures that young people will continue to have those opportunities for generations to come. 

- Jane T. Kaplan, whose investment to launch – and later endow – VCU Health Pauley Heart Center’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship ensures the program will live in perpetuity.

For some alumni and friends, their vision for giving back takes shape in the form of philanthropy.

Nathan G. Bick is among a team of development professionals whose own experiences have motivated them to join the medical school.

“Helping alumni and donors match their passion with opportunities that change lives is a profoundly rewarding experience for all involved,” says Bick, executive director of development in the School of Medicine for VCU’s Medical Philanthropy and Alumni Relations office. “When they see how their support translates into better care, education and innovation, it’s incredibly moving.”

The School of Medicine’s team often partners with colleagues at the MCV Foundation whose expertise in planned giving and wise stewardship of invested funds helps donors fulfill their vision for giving back. Today the foundation manages more than 2,000 funds that support research, education and patient care.

“We have the privilege of working with alumni, grateful patients and community members who want to make a difference for the MCV Campus,” says Margaret Ann Bollmeier, president and CEO of the MCV Foundation. “Their support fuels the academic health system and its mission. Our experts are here to guide donors in selecting the right tools to achieve their goals – whether it’s through an immediate gift or long-term legacy planning.”

From pioneering research discoveries to educational opportunities that shape the next generation of physicians to enhancing patient care in urban and rural communities – a spirit of service is transforming lives and strengthening the medical school and academic medical center’s ability to serve all who need them.

If you would like to talk with someone about ways to give back to the School of Medicine or VCU Health, please contact Nathan G. Bick, executive director of development, at ngbick@vcu.edu or (804) 827-0387.